Ghost Ships
‘Vindicated’ as minister backs ghost ships firm
THE firm behind the controversial
ghost ships last night
said it had been "vindicated"
after its plans to expand its
North-East site were backed
by the Secretary of State.
Communities Secretary
Hazel Blears accepted the
findings of a planning inspector
who found against Hartlepool
Borough Council's original
decision to refuse four
planning applications by Able
UK to develop its Graythorp
recycling facility, near Seaton
Carew.
A two-week planning inquiry
last year heard evidence
from Able and concluded that
appeals by the firm be allowed
and planning permission
granted.
Meanwhile, council chiefs
were contemplating an expensive
legal bill - potentially
running up to £1m - after
the inquiry concluded that a
partial award of costs was justified.
Counsel for Able had applied
for the firm's legal costs
to be met by the council, citing
its unreasonable behaviour
in causing the appeals to
be determined by Ms Blears.
Despite refusing planning
permission in 2006 to develop
the site, councillors controversially
performed a U-turn
a year later and approved an
almost identical set of plans
creating a dry dock, quays
and other related facilities.
However, that came too late
to halt the planning inquiry
into the earlier refusals.
Peter Stephenson, chief executive
of Able UK, said: "Obviously,
I am pleased our actions
and the validity of our
plans have been so clearly
supported by the planning inspector
and now the minister.
"This is a vindication for
our company, but a clear rejection
of the actions of those
who have sought to frustrate
our efforts."
The planning inspector said
Able's plans, which involve
dismantling defunct ships
and scrapping oil and gas rigs,
were an acceptable and appropriate
use of the site.
It was agreed there was a
substantial need to encourage
the development of capacity
for recycling ships in an environmentally
sound way.
A summary of the inspector's
findings said: "The appeal
site would be closely and
effectively regulated, and
there is little evidence that
the proposals would give rise
to any significant health
risks, or that they would have
an adverse affect on nature
conservation. The jobs that
are likely to be created would
be of substantial value to the
local economy."
The council has six weeks
in which to appeal to the High
Court to overturn the planning
inspector's verdict.
It could still face a legal
challenge over the decision to
subsequently grant planning
permission should an application
for a judicial review by
the group the Friends of
Hartlepool be successful.
A spokesman for the authority
said: "The council has
followed the democratic
process regarding Able UK's
planning applications and
acted in accordance with the
necessary planning guidance
and regulations."
8:36am Thursday 8th May 2008
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